Infrared fluorescent coatings
AssigneesThe Regents of the University of California, PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
InventorsMichael A. Zalich, Paul H. Berdahl, Stuart D. Hellring
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Abstract
A coating composition includes: (i) a film-forming resin; (ii) an infrared reflective pigment; and (iii) an infrared fluorescent pigment or dye different from the infrared reflective pigment. A multi-layer coating including the coating composition, and a substrate at least partially coated with the coating composition is also disclosed. A method of detecting an article at least partially coated with the coating composition is also disclosed.
Claims20
A method of detecting an object in a path of an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- directing infrared electromagnetic radiation from a radiation source mounted on an autonomous vehicle at an object at least partially coated with a coating composition comprising:
- (i) a film-forming resin, (ii) an infrared reflective pigment, and (iii) an infrared fluorescent pigment or dye different from the infrared fluorescent pigment;
- and
- detecting, by a radiation sensor mounted on the autonomous vehicle, reflected and fluoresced radiation emitted by the infrared reflective pigment and the infrared fluorescent pigment in response to excitation by incident radiation from the infrared electromagnetic radiation.
An autonomous vehicle guidance system, comprising:
- an autonomous vehicle;
- a radiation source mounted on the autonomous vehicle, the radiation source directing infrared electromagnetic radiation at an object at least partially coated with a coating composition comprising:
- (i) a film-forming resin, (ii) an infrared reflective pigment, and (iii) an infrared fluorescent pigment or dye different from the infrared fluorescent pigment;
- and
- a radiation sensor mounted on the autonomous vehicle detecting reflected and fluoresced radiation emitted by the infrared reflective pigment and the infrared fluorescent pigment in response to excitation by incident radiation from the infrared electromagnetic radiation.
A coated object in a path of an autonomous vehicle, comprising:
- an object in a path of an autonomous vehicle and at least partially coated with a coating composition comprising:
- (i) a film-forming resin, (ii) an infrared reflective pigment, and (iii) an infrared fluorescent pigment or dye different from the infrared fluorescent pigment,
- wherein the coated object is contacted with infrared electromagnetic radiation directed from a radiation source mounted on the autonomous vehicle,
- wherein the infrared reflective pigment and the infrared fluorescent pigment or dye reflect and fluoresce, respectively, at least a portion of the infrared electromagnetic radiation directed from the radiation source in a direction of a radiation detector mounted on the autonomous vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.